Travel Industry Helps Haiti Relief Efforts

Haiti earthquake victim

Here’s what the travel industry is doing to help the victims of the Haiti earthquake, travelers who have been affected,  and how you can help, too:

Travel Guard is providing free emergency travel and medial assistance services to travelers and families affected by the earthquake, including coordinating emergency medial arrangements and evacuations, temporary lodging, cash wire transfers, passport replacement, translation services, message relay, emergency travel arrangements and luggage tracking.

American Airlines and American Eagle, is giving bonus frequent flyer miles for contributing to the Red Cross.  Members can earn a one-time bonus of 250 miles for a minimum donation of $50 or 500 miles for a donation of $100 or more through Feb. 28.

American Express will donate $10 to the charity of your choice for every 1,000 Membership Rewards points you donate.

Spirit Airlines will give 5,000 Spirit miles to the first 200,000 members who donate at least $5 to UNICEF, the Red Cross or Yele Haiti.

United Airlines through its United Airlines Foundation will match up to a total of $50,000 to the American Red Cross for contributing money to the organization through its International Response Fund.  United Mileage Plus members also can donate miles to the airline’s nonprofit relief partners.

Grand Circle Travel is matching customers’ donations to Haiti through its Haitian Disaster Relief initiative, more than 270 donations were received, according to Priscilla O’Reilly, director of public relations. In addition, Grand Circle Travel has pledged $15,000 via the American Red Cross.

Members of the frequent stay programs of Choice Hotels  and Starwood Hotels and Resorts also can donate points to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts.